{"id":1123,"date":"2025-10-29T08:51:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T13:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/miami-beach-mayor-steven-meiners-real-estate-donations\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:46:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:46:55","slug":"miami-beach-mayor-steven-meiners-real-estate-donations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brickellsold.com\/blog\/miami-beach-mayor-steven-meiners-real-estate-donations\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner\u2019s Real Estate Donations"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Steven Meiner rode into the Miami<\/a> Beach mayor\u2019s office in 2023 after beating his former city commission colleague, Michael Gongora, in a run-off. Meiner made good on one of his campaign promises to make it a little harder for developers to seek more density for their projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last year, the city commission unanimously approved his legislation requiring six out of seven members of the elected body, including the mayor, to green-light any requests to exceed the city\u2019s maximum allowable floor area ratio, or FAR, for new buildings. The commission also approved requiring developers to conduct a neighborhood impact assessment of any proposed FAR increases.<\/p>\n

Yet, Meiner\u2019s four-year term as mayor has been marred by a few fumbles. In March, the mayor faced significant community backlash over his unsuccessful attempt to cancel a lease at a city-owned historic building at 1130 Washington Avenue with O Cinema. Meiner sought to terminate the agreement because the art house company refused to stop showings of a Gaza War documentary he claimed was offensive to Jewish people. Meiner also resigned from his job as a lawyer for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission following a human resources investigation that he sexually harassed three female colleagues and an intern, published reports state. The inquiry had just gotten underway when Meiner quit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite his efforts to reign in development and his controversies, Meiner has racked up strong financial support from real estate interests compared to city commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, his only opponent in the upcoming Nov. 4 election.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Prominent developers like Russell Galbut, Terra\u2019s David Martin and JDS Development\u2019s Michael Stern can\u2019t donate to any Miami Beach candidates because they have pending business with the city, according to city records. But Miami Beach First, a political action committee backing Meiner, has collected $134,000 in contributions from well-known real estate and hospitality players in Miami and Miami Beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meiner, a non-party affiliated candidate, said in a statement that the financial backing from the real estate and hospitality industry reflects broad support for his reelection campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cResidents and businesses recognize our success and want to keep the momentum going for Miami Beach,\u201d Meiner said.<\/p>\n

Rosen Gonzalez, an outspoken advocate for historic preservation in Miami Beach, told The Real Deal <\/em>that she is only raising money through her individual campaign account, and has not sought donations through a separate PAC. She said she is getting indirect support from groups such as Save, South Florida\u2019s longest-serving LGBTQ rights group, and the Miami-Dade Democratic Party.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rosen Gonzalez also has picked up some support from restaurant and hotel owners in Miami Beach\u2019s Art Deco District.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are very upset with the current state of the city,\u201d Rosen Gonzalez said. \u201cThey have more confidence in me than the mayor. When the streets are empty and hotels aren\u2019t full, that is a problem.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n